KILTY KEEN TO RULE THE ROOST

World indoor champion Richard Kilty has his sights set on domestic supremacy at the Sainsbury's British Championships in Birmingham this weekend.

The 24-year-old from Stockton-on-Tees knows he his now a marked man after his shock 60 metres success at the World Indoor Championships in Poland in March.

His focus, with the outdoor season well under way, is now firmly on the 100m ahead of a highly-anticipated showdown with his compatriots at the Alexander Stadium, with places on the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Zurich in August up for grabs.

Dwain Chambers has taken the British title for the last four years, but the 36-year-old will have his work cut out to hold back the tide of young talent this year.

The veteran is ranked only 10th in Britain in 2014, with the nine above him, who have all run the European Championships 'A' standard of 10.20 seconds, headed by 20-year-old Chijindu Ujah following his breakthrough run of 9.96secs in Hengelo earlier this month.

Kilty, who is fourth in the rankings with 10.12s, said: "I am always going to have a target on my back now.

"If I'm having an off day or I'm not properly prepared I'm always going to be a target now with having that world title. They want to come and beat me. That was the same for me competing against some of the top British guys like Dwain Chambers. I had a target on him at the World Indoor Championships and I came out and took a victory.

"You're going to have up-and-coming people using you as a target. I've just got to keep performing when it matters."

Kilty's breakthrough last winter was reward for returning to the track, having turned his back on athletics for seven months after missing out on the London 2012 Olympics.

And now he has gained a taste for success he is eager for more.

"That moment when I was on the podium was the best feeling of my life," said the sprinter, who is back on National Lottery funding.

"That's what going to drive me further forward because I want that moment again. When I'm in training and it's tough, I'm going to drag it out in those tough sessions to have one of those moments again. It's going to keep me hungry."

Kilty, who was named in England's team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, trains in Loughborough under coach Rana Raider alongside the likes of 100m rivals Chambers and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

With Aikines-Aryeetey having run a personal best 10.08 behind Ujah in Hengelo, Kilty will surely have to lower his best of 10.10 from last year if he is to triumph in Birmingham.

His indoor success - he ran 6.49 in winning in Poland - has raised expectations that he will become the latest Briton to dip beneath the 10-second barrier this summer.

Kilty himself admitted the pressure was on and he did not want "to let people down".

"I expect myself to do it now - whether it be this year or next year or 2016 I think I'm definitely capable of it," he said.

The rivalry between Britain's male sprinters has been in the spotlight of late, but the fastest of them, James Dasaolu, will not be at the trials.

Dasaolu, who clocked 9.91 at the event last year before pulling out of the final, has not raced since tearing his hamstring in February. He has been granted special dispensation by British Athletics performance director Neil Black to focus on the Sainsbury's Glasgow Grand Prix next month as well as the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne with the aim of showing he warrants a place on the team for the European Championships.

He said: "The trials have just come a week too early for me. The best opportunity I have to achieve the standard is at those two races."

The men's 100m final is the final event of the meeting on Sunday afternoon, with the heats starting the previous day.

Dasaolu will not be the only big name missing, with Mo Farah not there as he prepares for a 5,000m and 10,000m double at the Commonwealth Games.

The 400m hurdles heats get under way on Friday without former world champion Dai Greene, who is also focusing on the Commonwealths and the defence of his title.

The two top finishers in each event in Birmingham will be guaranteed selection for the European Championships, provided they have the required 'A' standard. The British team will be selected on July 14 and named the following day.